El Paso father guilty of 2-year-old son's death sentenced to 3 years

The father of a 2-year-old boy who died in 2010 after being left inside a hot car has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Emmanuel Armendariz, 28, pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and injury to a child in the death of his son, Manny Malique Armendariz, in August 2010.

At the time, officials with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said Armendariz and the boy's mother discovered the toddler inside of a car parked outside of their home in Socorro after they realized the boy was not with either parent.

The outdoor temperature at the time was about 90 degrees. Authorities said they did not know how long the child had been left in the car, but neighbors said they saw Armendariz arrive at the home in the early afternoon. The boy's mother arrived about 5:30 p.m.

Neighbors also told the El Paso Times they witnessed the couple try to resuscitate the boy while calling 911. The boy was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Court records show Armendariz was sentenced to three years in prison last week in the 409th District Court.

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117. Follow her on Twitter @AChavezEPTimes